Things To Do in Peso da Régua

Whether you arrive by train or boat, it's a short walk to the Museu do Douro, Rua Marquês de Pombal (www.museudodouro.pt, 📞 254 310 190, open daily 10am–5:30pm, admission 6€ adults; 3€ seniors and students—although they will have to pay 5€ if they want the glass of port offered free with full-price admission at the end of the visit). This riverside museum, opened in 2008, is Régua's main attraction. Don't be put off by the largely Portuguese-only website, the museum itself offers a modern, multimedia explanation of wine production, history and traditions of the region. It's housed in a 19th-century building built as the headquarters of the agency that regulated the port trade, and spills over into a modern extension.

The collection includes paintings of Douro landscapes, antique wine-making equipment, vintage advertising posters. There are also regular temporary exhibitions that can range from historic photographs of work in the vineyards to contemporary art.

There's also a wine bar overlooking the river, restaurant serving excellent value regional dishes (roast pork with chestnuts, trout stuffed with bacon ...) and a shop where you can stock up on wine or local handicrafts.